Parmesan Biscuits

If you've ever been to Red Lobster then you've probably indulged in their famous biscuits. Now, you can enjoy the same taste at home. These biscuits are quick and easy to make and you don't have to go to a restaurant to enjoy them.

1 pkg of Tastefully Simple's Perfect Parmesan Biscuit Mix
1/2 c Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 c Cold Water
2 Tbsp Butter, melted
Seasoning Salt

1. Fix biscuits according to package.
2. Add just a couple of shakes of seasoning salt to melted butter and drizzle over warm biscuits.

Tostadas Deliciosos

These Tostadas are so simple and quick to make and absolutely scrumptious. We keep the ingredients on hand for those meals where we're pressed for time and need something quick and easy.

6 to 10 Corn Tortillas
Vegetable Oil
Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 lb Ground Beef
1 pack Ole El Paso Taco Seasoning
1 can Ole El Paso Refried Beans
1 heaping Tbsp Cream Cheese
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Deep fry tortillas.  Deep fry each tortilla until lightly brown and hard. Dab fried tortilla with paper towel to remove excess oil.  Sprinkle both sides of tortilla with Parmesan cheese. Set shells aside.
2. Beans. Place beans in small pot and add cream cheese. If the beans are too thick, add a little milk. Warm over medium-to-low heat.
3. Beef. While beans are warming, fix ground beef with taco seasoning according to directions on taco seasoning pack. 
4. Spread beans on top of tostada shell, top with seasoned ground beef and shredded cheddar cheese. Add salt and pepper.

Variations:
Add chopped green pepper to ground beef while browning.
Add a small layer of sour cream on beans before topping with seasoned ground beef.

Broiled Pork Chops - Jersey Style

This is a recipe Michael created on his own one night and it is amazing. He served it with baby white potatoes with pesto.

3 Boneless Center Cut Pork Fillets, 1" thick
1 tsp Ground Coriander
1 tsp Ground Fennel Seed
1-1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp White Pepper
8 Dashes of Salt
6 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp Liquid Smoke
Pork Seasoning
Parmesan Cheese
Tastefully Simple's Pomegranate Chipotle Sauce 1 tsp Dried Rosemary

1. In mixing bowl combine all ingredients except Pork Seasoning and Parmesan Cheese. Mix well.
2. Place mixture in large marinating zip lock bag.
3. Pound meat until 3/4" thickness.
4. Place meat in marinating bag and mix meat around to cover well with seasoning.
5. Place in freezer for 30 minutes.
6. Pre-heat oven on high broil and move rack to highest level.
7. Sprinkle both sides of meat with Pork seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
8. Place meat on baking pan and broil for 7 minutes on each side.
9. Remove and let cool for 3 minutes.
10. Glaze meat with Tastefully Simple's Pomegranate Chipotle Sauce
11. Serve with Fennel leaf as garnish.

Staten Island Crab Cakes

These go great with a Remoulade, Tartar or Curry Mayo sauce and lemon. You can also use pink salmon in place of the crab.

1 lb jumbo lump crap meat
1 egg
1/3 c mayonnaise
1-1/2 tsp. spicy mustard
1-1/2 tsp. Tastefully Simple's Garlic Garlic seasoning
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c fresh breadcrumbs from Italian bread
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. olive oil

1. Drain the crab meat and pick through it to make sure there are no shells. Dice and set a side.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic seasoning, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Pour the mixture over the crab meat and gently mix until well combined.
4. Add the breadcrumbs and parsley and continue to gently mix until well combined. Don't over do it.
5. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
6. Shape the mixture into about 8 cakes.
7. In skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat.
8. Add the crab cakes when the butter gets frothy.
9. Cook on both sides until golden brown - about 4-5 minutes per side.
10. Serve with lemon wedge and sauce (Remoulade, Tartar, or Curry mayo).

Best Ever Mexican Dip

A friend gave me this recipe several years ago. It's quick and easy to make and is always a big hit.

  

1 8oz cream cheese, softened

1 heaping Tbls Mayo

1 small jar of your favorite Salsa ( I like Sting-N-Linger's Flame Roasted)
1 cup shredded Mexican style cheese (blend of Monterey Jack, Mild Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla & Asadero Cheeses)
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 green pepper, finely chopped
2 scallions, chopped
Your favorite white corn chips

1. In medium bowl blend cream cheese and mayo. Spread onto serving plate.
2. Top cream cheese with desired amount of salsa.
3. Top with cheese.
4. Next layer with (in order) tomato, green pepper, and scallions.
5. Dip with white corn chips.

Quick and Simple Baked Potato Soup

The Tastefully Simple Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix already has potatoes in the mix, but I like adding just a little baked potato to the recipe. I served the soup with Tastefully Simple's Perfect Parmesan Biscuits. Try drizzling a little melted butter mixed with Seasoned Salt on the biscuits while they're still warm.


1 package of Tastefully Simple Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix
2 medium potatoes
Shredded medium cheddar cheese
1 scallion, chopped
5-6 slices of bacon, fried and chopped

1. Wash potatoes and place on plate. Cover with cling wrap and cook in Microwave for 5 minutes.
2. Let potatoes cool and then dice. Set aside.
3. Mix Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix according to package.
4. Add diced baked potatoes.
5. Simmer according to soup mix package.
6. Spoon soup into individual bowls and top with desire amounts of shredded cheese, scallion, and bacon.

Orange Roughy with Peach Tarragon Salsa

I haven't cooked a lot of fish, so I wanted to experiment a little and expand upon what little I know about preparing it. Michael and I found the original recipe in "Entertaining at Home with America's Top Chefs," which was foreword by Emeril Lagasse.  We made a few changes of our own and, I must say, was quite surprised at how well we both liked it. I was worried that the peach salsa wouldn't taste good, as it does have a strong tarragon taste, but coupled with the fish, the flavors really went well together. We served the fish with steamed asparagus, which added to a great combination of flavors.


2 Orange Roughy fillets
4 white peaches
1 Tbsp minced fresh tarragon leaves
1 lime, juiced
2 tsp cracked black peppercorns
3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 medium cloves of garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 egg
Flour, for breading
Italian bread crumbs, for breading

Peach Salsa

1. Cut peaches in half and remove pits.
2. Chop peaches into 1/4" pieces and place in medium bowl.
3. Add tarragon leaves, lime juice, and cracked peppercorns.
4. Lightly toss and set aside.

Orange Roughy

1. Heat oil, butter, and garlic in medium frying pan.
2. Add shallots to pan and saute until tender.
3. Whisk egg in a small to medium bowl.
4. Roll fish in flour.
5. Dip floured fish in egg and then roll fish in Italian bread crumbs.
6. Place fish in pan and cook approximately 4 minutes per side or until desired doneness.
7. Place fish on plate and top with peach salsa.

Apple Turnovers

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
3 Fuji apples, peeled and sliced
3 tsp butter
4 oz brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 egg yolk
2 tbsp water
1 piece puff pastry (can be found in grocer's freezer section)
8 oz cream cheese
2 oz walnuts, chopped
Powdered sugar
Honey

1. Saute sliced apples, with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until apples are tender, but not mushy.
2. Pour apple mixture into bowl and let cool.
3. Roll puff pastry out on floured surface and cut into 3-1/2" to 4" squares. You will need 2 squares per turnover.
4. Place 1/2 of the squares on a greased baking pan. On each square place 1-2 tbsp of the apples, 1 tbsp of cream cheese, and top with about 1 tbsp of the chopped walnuts.
5. Place the other half of pastry squares on top of pastry with filling. Crimp edges with fork.
6. Whisk egg yolk and water in small bowl.
7. Brush pastry with egg.
8. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top of pastry.
9. Bake in 350 degree pre-heated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Place pastry on serving plate and top with powdered sugar.
11. Drizzle honey on top of pastry.
12. Enjoy!

Broccoli & Swiss Cheese Quiche

1 lb. broccoli florets
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
4 mushrooms
2 tbsp. butter
1 9" ready-made pie crust
4 eggs, beaten
3/4 c. cream
1-1/4 c. milk
Salt & pepper to season
1/2 lb. Swiss cheese, grated

1. Clean and cut broccoli.
2. Saute broccoli and onion in butter until tender.
3. Place vegetables in the bottom of pie crust.
4. Mix eggs, cream, milk, salt and pepper.
5. Pour mixture over vegetables in pie crust.
6. Top with Swiss cheese.
7. Bake in 375 degree pre-heated oven for 30-40 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.
8. Cool and enjoy.